Breech-loading gun



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. P. BURKHARD & F. NOVOTNY. BREEGH LOADING GUN. No. 288,618. Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

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5 SheetsSheet 2.

J. P. BURKHARD & F. NOVOTNY.

BRBEGH LOADING GUN.

Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES V). dzagf,

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

J. P. BURKHARD & I. NOVOTNY.

BRBBGH LOADING GUN. V No. 288,618. Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

I Azforney (No Model) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. P. BURKHARD & F. NOVOTNY. BREEGH LOADING GUN.

No. 288,618. Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

Eli!!! WITNESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. P. BURKHARD 8v 1?. NOVOTNY.

BREEGH LOADING GUN.

Patented Nov. 20, 1883.

(No Model.)

MAT/VESSES "WE/NOR 39 the hammer. indicators, so'situatcd as to enable the gunner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

JOHN P. BUR-KHARD AND FRANK NOVOTNY, OF ST. PAUL.v MINNESOTA.

BIREECH-LOADING GUN.

srrgcrrrca'non forming part of Letters Patent in. 288,618, dated November 20, 1883.

Application filed December 522, 1882. (So model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JOHN P. BURKHARD and FRANK Novo'rivv, of St. Paul, in thecounty of Ramsey in Breech-Loading Guns; and we hereby declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

' Our invention relates to an improvement in breech-loading guns, the object of the-same being, first, to provide improved means for automatically cocking the hammers when the barrels are tiltcdupat the breech to receive the cartridge. A further object is to provide means for automatically cooking the hammers amllockingthcminacockedpositionby-simply tilting the barrels up t the breech to receive the cartridges. simple means for unlocking the hammers when it is desired to discharge the piece. Further, to provide simple and compact locks com-posed of few parts, all of which are secured to the side plates of the gun and adapted to be removed therewith. Further, to provide safety mechanism for preventing the premature explosion of the gun in case the scar should break or become acc dentally disengaged from Further, to provide automatic to perceive instantly whether the right or left orboth hammers are cocked. A. further object is to .provide means for removably securing the barrels to the stock, and with these ends in view our invention consists in the parts and combinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view'of a gun embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is-a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 4 shows detached views of the lockingbolts. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of 'the compensating-link. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the lower side of the active body. Fig. 7 is asimilar view of the lockingbolts and top lever. Fig. 8 is a similar view of the reciprocating rod. Fig. 9 is a transa verse vertical sectional view of the'verticallymovable locking-bar. Fig. 10 is a side view and. State of Minnesota,'have in-- 5 vented certain new and useful Improvements A further object is to provide of the active body with one side plate in position and one removed. Fig. 11 is a-view of one of the side plates with the operative parts thereon. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the indicator-pins. Fig. 13 showsthe locking-bar. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the combined scar and mainspring. Fig. 15 is a vertical longitudinal sectional yiew of the fore part of the stock and a portion of the barrels, and Fig. 16 is apcrspeetive view of the side plate, showing the combined scar and niainspring and the mechanism for holding the said combined spring in a depressed position.

A represents the stock; B, the active body; and C, the barrels, the latter being pivotally secured to the active body in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The stock A is provided at its forward end with recesses and slots for the active body of the gun and for the side and thetrigger plates, the mainportion of the said end, however, being undisturbed or left solid, so as to afford a firm and solid bearing for the parts attached thereto. g

Each side plate, D, is-of the ordinary shape, and is provided on its inner face with a concealed hammer, a, the mainspring b, the sear .c, and the safety mechanism, which will be hereinafter referred to. The hammer a is provided with one or more sear notches, with which the end of the sear engages, and when in a depressed position rests up against the inward projection, e, formed integral with the side plate, D. 7

The V-shaped spring b is secu'red'to the side plate in any desired manner, and acts directly on the hammer and sear, thereby dispensing with the services of an e tra spring for each lock.

The sear c is provided at its rear end with an inwardly-projecting finger, d, the outer end of which latter rests over one of the triggers g, secured to the trigger-plate.

f is a finger formed integral with the ham 5 through the por- 10o 3o face with a curved cut-aw the vertical center of the active body.

" out interfering with from the hammer,

lattervrests in close'proximity The-opposite end of. the lever 65 k, while the free end 'of the 5 upward until the n pper end thereof rests above the breech-block and when the hammer falls the indicator also falls with it.. By this means the gunner is able to tell at a glance if either or both hammers are cocked.

'describzd. also serve to hold the firing-pins in place, and prevent their accidental displacement.

The firing-pins G pass horizontally through I 5 the breech-blockone behindeaehbarrel and each is provided about midway its length with a cut-away portion for the passage of the indicators F. "hese firing-pins G are free to move a slight distance, and the-rear ends thereof project through the breech-block and terminate in front of the hammer. Each hammer a is also provided with a curved lateral projeetion, 1 with which the rear ends of the cocking-bars H engage. These cocking-bars 2 5 are L-shaped, and pass longitudinally through the active body from the rels are pivoted thereto to the hammers a on the faceplate. The rear portions of these cocking-bars are each provided on its upper ay portion,.in which the curved lateral projections i of the hammers a rest. The front end of each of these cocking-bars is provided with an inwardly-projecting arm, j, the ends of which latter meet in point where the bar From the foregoing it will be seen that by exerting a pulling-force on the cocking-bars backward to a fullposition by the sears c.

cock, and held in such The cocking-bars are movedlongitudinally by tilting the barrel, and, after the hammers are cooked, the cocking-bars can be moved withthe hammers. The precise manner of operating the cocking-bars will 5 be described farther on.

To prevent' a premature explosion in case the sear should he accidentally disengaged we have provided an independent safety attachment adapted 'to engage the spring b and hold it in a depresscdposition. This safety attachment is also secured to the side faces of which are set into the inner face of the side plates, so as not to interfere -with the free move- 6:: The rear end of the operating-lei'er k terminates-in an inwardly-projecting finger, I, which to the finger d onthe sear 0. 'k rests in an open slot'in one end'of the dog to rest over a lateral projection, in on the 'lhese indir0 cators. besides performing the function above spring b. The pendent arm of the dog is rests in front of the projection or'a-butment m on the spring b, and as the said spring bis depressed dnring the cooking operation, the said dog is moved to enable the PI'OJGCtiOD m to pass downward. As soon as it passes the lower end of the pendent arm of the dog it (the'dog) swings around by the action of the spring k and bars the upward movement of the spring b. Thus it will be seen that if the end of the sear should by any accident whatever become disengaged from the hammer the spring would still be under control and beinoperative until released from the dog; but when it is desired to discharge the piece the trigger actsv alike on the lever k and the sear, and simultaneous] removes all obstacles tending to hold the hambefore deseri bed, are secured on opposite sides plates for cleaning by use of the the lock, and consists of a dog, k, and the operating-lever 7;, both of is controlled by the said dog is adapted through both sideplates and the intervening stock.

When it is desired toclean the lock, it is simply necessary'to remove the screw 1: with an ordinary screw-driver and take off the plates,with the operative parts of the look attached thereto, without disarranging any other parts, it making no difierenee whether the hammers are cocked or not. \Vhcn this is done, the entire operative parts of the lock can be easily apd quickly detached from the single screwdriver at hand, and as readily put together again. -Again, the particular construct-ion of lock herein described permits the hammer to be snapped without in anywise endahgering the gun. The front end of the active body of the gun is curved in forms the bearing on which the barrels turn. The active body is also provided with two or more openipgs, into which the lugs p p on the under side of the barrels rest, and in which they are secured by the wedge-shaped. holding-bolts J and J. The barrels are pivoted horizontallyto the active body. of the. gun, and consequently swing in a vertical plane in opening and closing, the hooked lugs on the under side of the. barrels being adapted to register with the openings in the active body. The openings or slots in the lugs on the under side of the bar ls are made wedge-shaped. and the breecht J and the lower bolts, J and J, which entersaid notches, are also wedgeshaped, fora purpose to be hereinafter described. l

The bolts J and J", which enter the hooked lugs p p, are made in separate pieces of the form shown, and move and rest in recesses formed in the active body of the gun. The rear end of the lower bolts, J J, is provided with an which latter rests injan is connected by the compensating-link t to the tumbler K, which latter in turn is connected mer back. These side plates, with the parts.

the arc of a circle, and

of the gun by the single screw n, which passes upwardly-extendingarm,q, the upper end of,

open slot, 1', formed inltho'downward extension"s of the upper seems a to the top lever, L. The movement of this tumbler K is controlled by the spring M, the 'constant tendency of which is to force the bolts J J J outward into the notches formed in the lugs 12 p p of the gun-barrels. When the lever L is turned in the proper direction, the bolts J, J, and J are withdrawn from the notches in the catches p pp, and the barrels are allowed to tilt.

The compensating-link t is made in two parts, one of which is provided with a female screw-threaded socket, and the other with a screw, which latter screws into the female screw-threaded socket. By simply unscrewing the parts .this link can be lengthened to compensate for any wear of the wedge-shaped bolts, or of the wedge-shaped-notches formed in the depending lugs p p onthe under side of the gun-barrel, or the wedge-shaped notch on the breech-lug p. The movement of the top lever, L, also performs another important function-viz. automatically locking the triggers against movement. 4

' To tilt the barrels it is necessary to move 2 5 the top lever, L, and when the said top lever is moved a suificient distance to withdraw the bolts J J .T the automatic lock or safety mechanism is also brought into operation. This safety mechanism consists of a long rod, N, secured to the under side of the top plate of the active body, the front end of which rests in close proximity to the tumbler K. The central portion thereof is provided on its upper and lower faces with cams '0, which latter regulate the movement of the verticallymovable bar 2b. This bar is guided by depending arms on the top .plate of the active body, and is provided with an opening through which the rod N passes. The rod N is also when the mark or plate is covered by the piece P the triggers are unlocked.

As before stated, the front end of the rod N rests in close proximity to the tumbler K.

This rod N is free to move longitudinally, and as the tumbler K is turned. it strikes the end of the rod N and moves it rearwardly and uncovers the mark or sign which indicates whether the triggers are locked or not. As the rod N is moved the cams a, passing through the restricted hole in the vertically-movable bar 40, elevate or depress the said bar, the

movement of the said 'rod, however, being dependent on the direction of movement of the rod N. When the top lever, L, is turned to withdraw the bolts, the rod N is moved rearward and the bar 10 depressed, so as to bear directly on the triggers g and prevent thenrfrom performing their functions. When the rod N rovided,' back of the cams v, with notches,.

reaches the end of its back stroke, the end of the spring 0 falls into a notch formed in the -rod N and'holds the said rod'against arch 76 dental movement in either direction.

When the parts are all adjusted, and it is desired to discharge a cartridge, it is simply necessary to move the thumb-piece P forward as far as it will go. of the rod N elevates the vertically-movable bar w, and leaves the triggers free to be moved. If it is desired to lock the gun after one barrel has been discharged, it is simply necessary to move the thumb-piece backward, which, as before stated, depresses the bar we and locks the triggers.

The gun-barrels are pivotally secured to the front end of the active body of the gun, between it and the movable portion Q of the stock A. The front face or edge of the hooked catch or lug p is curved. as shown at y, against which curved portion the arms j of the cocking-bars H rest and on which they move. The half-circular notch a, situated immediatelybelow the curved portion 3 bears against the portion of the active body which forms the axis on which the barrels 0 move, and consequently when the barrel is tilted the curved portion 3 is moved in the arc of a circle away from the active body and draws along with it the cocking-bars H. As soon as the required distance is traversed, the sears engage the ham- -mers and hold them back in a cocked position.

When the barrels are righted, the cockingbars are also moved inward in position to engage the hammers for the next cocking.

The fore part, Q, of the stock A is secured to the gun-barrels by the spring-actuated catch 0, which, in outward appearance, resembles an ordinary catch. The gun-barrels are also provided with a depending lug, b, having a notch on its rear face with which the spring-actuated catch engages. The lug b projects downward into 'a close:fitting socket formed in the portion Q of the stock, and the hooked catch 0 engages with the notch therein and holds it firmly in place without danger of liability of displacement. The catch a is operated by the lever d and spring d, the latter tending to hold the lever d in a closed position. construction of parts enables the fore part of the stock to be secured in position by simply placing the rear end thereof against the fore This This forward movement 5 end of the activebody and pressing the parts rec together. During the operation the lever d need not be touched and remains stationary, r

it being called into use only when desired to take the gun apart.

When it is desired to remove the barrels from the stock, it is simply necessary to remove the fore part, Q, of the stock from the barrcls. The top lever, L, is then turned, which releases the barrels from the active body and allows them to be removed for any purpose whatever.

When it is desired to load the gun, the top lever, L, is turned, which allows the barrels to tilt, exposing the This movement of the barrels cocks the hammers and throws up the indicators, and the movement of the top lever locks the triggers and prevents any accidental explosion of a cartridge. The cartridges are then inserted in posit-ion and the breech closed by righting the barrels. \V hen the gun is in this condition, it is impossible for an accidental explosion to take place, and before it can be fired the thumb-piece 1 has to to be moved, so as to cover the safety-mark.

This gun in outward appearance resembles very closely the guns now commonly used by sportsmen; but in internal structure it differs materially. In the first place the front end of the stock, to which the active body is secured, is nearly solid, while those in guns now used are necessarily cut up to accommodate the complicated mechanism employed thereon. By means of our cocking-bars and the manner of connecting them to the barrels an immense leverage is obtained, and a corresponding striking force given to the hammer.

Our invention is simple in construct-ion, is

of comparatively few parts, can be' entirely taken apart and put together with the aid of an ordinary screw-driver, and all the operative parts are of comparatively light and compact build and singularly frictionless in their workings.

It is evident that numerous changes in the position and construction of the several parts of the gun might be resorted to without-dcparting from the spirit and scope of our invention, and hence we would have it understood that we do not limit ourselves tothe cxshown and .described, but

act construction consider ourselves at liberty to make such changes and altera ions as fairly fall within 40 the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having fully described ourfinvent'ion, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettcrs Patent, is

1. In a breech loadin g gun, the combination,

with the hammers, each provided with a projection below its pivotal bearing, and tilting gun-barrels provided with a depending lag,

of two sliding cocking-bars, each provided at its forward end with an inwardly-projecting 5 lug, and adapted to engage the lug on the barrels at a point above the pivotal bearing of the barrels, and constructed to engage the projections on. the hammers, substantially as set forth.

2. In abreech-loading gun, the combination, with the hammer provided with a projection below its pivotal bearing, and tilting gun-barrels provided with a depending lug having a curved bearing located above the pivotal bear- 0 ing of the barrels, of a sliding cocking-bar provided at its forward end with alug that engages the convex bearing on the lug of the barrels, and at its rear end with a lug that engages the projection on the hammer, subs-tax tially as set forth. I I

8. In abrcech-loadi ng gun, the combination, with an indicator-pin arrangedto passthrough the breech-block, and arranged to directly engage the indicatorpin and impart a positive up-and-down movement thereto, substantially as set forth.

4. In a breech-loading gun, the combination, with an indi cator-pi 11 arranged to pass thro the breech-block, said pin being provided with a slot or recess near its lower end, of a ham-- mer provided with a finger or projection that engages in the slot or recess in the indicatorpin, and thereby impartsa positive up-anddown movement to the indicator-pin, substan-.

tially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the hammer, scar, and mainspring, of a pivoted dog adapted to engage the spring and lock it while the hammer is cocked, a lever constructed and arranged to engage the pivoted dog and release it from the spring, and trigger for operating gaitll lever and the sear, substantially as set 6. The combinatiomwith the hammer sear, trigger, and spring, the latter provided with a lateral projection, of a pivoted dog adapted to engage the lateral projection on the sprin one arm of said pivoted dog being no and a spring-actuated lever adapted to en the notched end of the pivoted dog, said lever being operated by the trigger in releasing the spring, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the gun-barrel, locking-bolt, top lever, and tumbler, of a compensating-link constructed substantiallyas described, and adapted to connect the lockingbolt and tumbler, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the gun-barrel, locking-bolts, the tumbler, and top lever, of a compensating-link connecting the tumbler and locking-bolt, said link being made in two parts adj ust-ably connected by a screw, substantially as set forth.

9. In a breech-loading gun, the combinati on, with the triggers and a. locking-bar adapted to lock said triggers, of the top lever, tumbler, and devices, substantially as described. adapted to be operated by the tumbler-and raise and lower said locking-bar, substantially as set forth.

10. In a breech-loading gun, the'combination, with the locking-bolts, tumbler, top lever, and triggers, of avertically-movable locking-bar adapted to engage with both trigge and a reciprocating rod provided witha double cam for elevating and depressing said locking bar, substantially as set forth.

11. In a breech-loading gun, the combines tion, with the locking-bolts, tumbler, top lever, and triggers, of a locking-bar adapted to engage with both triggers, a rod adapted to be retracted by a tumbler, said rod bein provided with a double cam or incline for e ovating and depressing said locking-barimand a sprin catch or pawl for locking said rin a lock or unlock position, substantially as set forth.

12. In a breech-loading gun, the combina tion. with the triggers and a locking-bar adaptof the hammer constructed assm s I 5 ed to engage with both triggers, of a. rcciprespecification in the presence of two subscribing eating rod provided with a double cam or inwitnesses.

eline for elevating and depressing said lock- JOHN PAUL BURKHARD.

ing-bar, and aithumb piece attached to said FRANK NOVOTNY.

5 reciprocating bar for actuating the same, sub- Witnesses;

stantially as set forth. W. H. RICHARDSON,

In testimony whereof we have signed this THEO. BUBKHARD. 

